Van Tango

Check these out :
Timo Maas - Like Siamese
The Ordinary Boys - Skull And Bones ; Don't Live Too Fast
Mando Diao - Added Family

Timo Maas new album "Pictures" features guests like Brian Molko, Neneh Cherry (seven seconds) and Kelis(whose milkshake brought all the boys to the yard??). There are many kinds of inspirations from dance, hip-hop and rock. Besides his single 'Pictures', another track to take note of is 'Like Siamese'. It got me hooked from the first few seconds. Brian provided the vocals on some issues then comparing it to a Siamese. Very addictive track.

The Ordinary Boys has been around for some time but has drifted in and out of the limelight. Their new album, Brassbound, is a mix of some ska elements and their normal sounds. You can imagine them to be the cousins of The Kaiser Chiefs who are currently gaining popularity after performing at the Live8 in the US. Two tracks that interest me are Skull & Bones and Don't Live Too Fast. Don't know how to describe it but if you mix Blur with Madness, then these two songs should be the end product.

Mando Diao is the 'serious' rock n roll version if you compare them to The Hives(hate to say i told u so..) who are both from Sweden. I can sense a very early Oasis(b4 Definitely Maybe..yes they have unheard songs too) influence in this Mando Diao. Was very impressed when "Sheepdog" was shown on MTV few years back. Hurricane Bar is their second album and it contains many fantastic catchy tracks that may get you thinking whether they gathered Noel G, Ian Brown & Ray Davies to help them write these tunes. One big highlight personally was this song 'Added Family'. It starts with someone humming then the lazy vocals came in, then the beat changes at the chorus but makes it so soothing to the ears. Btw, always wondered what their band name means. Oh yah, their dressing is very rock n roll too. Long black jackets like those worn in the 80s detective shows. You will get heat stroke if you walk around with that attire in here...

Saw the photo gallery exhibition depicting the years gone by as part of the upcoming National Day celebration. There were many incidents like rioting, hotel new world collapse, high profile murder/illegal gambling cases, Michael Fay's caning and one about Dutch parents giving away their daughter to the locals here during the World War II and wanted to take her back after it ended, which caused a big chaos amongst the people. Forgotten her name. Darn.

There was a drug-awareness campaign going on at the Youth Park. Didn't know it was scheduled, but anyways came to watch Ronin perform. Was a bit early, so we all had to be entertained by a very interesting Chinese Rock singing band. The vocalist looks like one of me mate but without the long hair. His screaming at times were quite funny, but don't think it's fair to laugh at his effort to entertain the crowd. Then Ronin came on and did their usual thing. Hard rock not really me cup of tea but it is good quality local music. Pug Jelly are you listening?

Goldfrapp's Ooh La La is very haunting and melodious. Can't stop repeating the bloody chorus and it's very tiring to have the mind set on listening to it on repeat. If this is the kind of quality her new album will possess, the cd might get heat overdose from over-spinning. I need a la-la-la-la-la-la..i need a ooh-laa-la-la-la-laa...

Figo looked likely to stay at the Real and Owen is not sleeping well with the arrival of this boy called Robinho. Served him right for looking down on Rafa last year. He can plead on his knees but Anfield don't welcome traitors. Roy Keane may have an argument with the ManYoo management over some issues concerning the Asian Trip. Haa-ha! Robert 'Diver' Pires looked to be staying, according to Arsene. Hoped Looney and him have some WWE incident next season.


Survivor Kaobehkaobu Episode Eight
Last week on..Survivor. After MissyE was voted out, Andrea had mixed feelings about her position and told Fran about it. He pointed out that the Malu-Malu members should stick together first.
At the other camp, Shania pondered to the rest on how 50 is coping.
Shania : "Is he smart enough to get more inside info for his own keeping?"
Robb : "Then he is one smart aleck."
StevenT : "Hope he shares it with us when we get to meet again."
At the reward challenge,
Jeff : "Everyone drop your buffs."
The complexion of the game changed when the two tribes merged and came out with a new tribe name,
Mabokai. Individual reward and immunity challenges are implemented from then on. The first individual reward consists of tribe members being randomly paired and competed in the underwater swimming maze game. The team of AliG and Belinda were the first to come back with all the items, winning themselves a car each. When the team came back to their preferred old Zho-Bo Lan camp, a feast awaited them.
StevenT : "A toast to the Mabokai tribe!"
Robb became close to Andrea, prompting suspicious eyes from the rest. Fran, Liam and AliG looked a tight bond, whereas Hillary, Shania, Belinda mingled like long lost cousins. 50 told StevenT that he was glad there was a merge, cause he might be the next cut if he were to remain at Malu-Malu.
At the first individual immunity, all members were made to stand on top of a wooden pole where the last standing player will earn immunity. Temptations were high when pizzas, ice cream and all sorts of items were up for grabs in return of jumping down from the pole. In the end, amazingly, Shania won the individual immunity.
The Mabokai tribe had many small cliques and there were decisions of almost four to five members names in the air to be the next cut. At the tribal challenge, 4 votes were cast against one person which proved enough..and the unlucky person is AliG.

Jeff : "AliG, the tribe has spoken."
AliG : "Has been fun. Ta ta!"

9 contestants, seven of which will be part of the jury, are left. Who will be next to go? *theme song*